Oil dips in nervous trading as U.S.-China trade war looms

By  Trend

Oil prices dipped on Friday in a nervous market ahead of a raft of import tariffs expected to be imposed later in the day by the world’s two biggest economies, the United States and China, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell 25 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $77.14 per barrel by 0317 GMT from their last close.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures CLc1 were down 15 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $72.79.

Weighing on prices was a rise in U.S. crude inventories C-STK-T-EIA of 1.2 million barrels in the week to June 29, to 417.88 million barrels, the U.S. Energy Administration (EIA) said on Thursday.

Looming larger over markets is the U.S./China trade dispute.

Washington has announced tariffs on Chinese goods from 12:01 a.m. Washington D.C. time (0401 GMT) on Friday.

China says it will retaliate, and U.S. President Trump said on Thursday he may ultimately impose tariffs on more than a half-trillion dollars worth of Chinese goods.

“We’re headed for an unparalleled trade conflict between the world’s largest economies,” said Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia/Pacific at brokerage OANDA.

Beijing has threatened a 25 percent tariff on U.S. crude imports, although it has not specified an introduction date.

American crude shipments to China are around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), worth $1 billion a month at current prices.

Tariffs would make U.S. oil uncompetitive in China.

An executive from China’s Dongming Petrochemical Group said he expected Beijing to soon impose the tariff on U.S. oil imports.

He added that his refinery had canceled U.S. crude imports and would switch to Middle East or West African supplies instead.

The potential trade war between the United States and China comes amid a tight oil market.

Energy consultancy FGE on Friday issued a stark warning of looming supply shortages due to U.S. sanctions against Iran, and because of disruptions elsewhere.

“Iran’s exports are some 2.7 million bpd, including condensate,” it noted.

Even if the U.S. government grants some waivers to allies, FGE estimated 1.7 to 2 million bpd of crude and condensate would be cut out of markets once its sanctions are implemented.

Some are already reacting. South Korea, a major buyer of Iranian oil and condensate, will not lift any Iranian oil in July for the first time since August 2012, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Cutting Iran out from oil trading comes amid other disruptions.

“Venezuela...will lose another 400,000 bpd by year-end with production going to below 1 million bpd,” FGE said, adding that another 300,000 bpd of Libyan capacity was disrupted.

Although Saudi Arabia and Russia have said they would raise output to make up for disruptions, FGE said “there simply is not enough capacity to make up for Iran’s crude losses, plus Venezuela and Libya”, and warned of the possibility of oil prices rising to $100 per barrel.